Costa del Sol News - 7th Semptember 2001

Dolores Vazquez accused of a crime vs. a young girl from Mijas, told jurors that after having raised her like her own, the girl was like a daughter to her; they had never had a problem amongst each other.

INTERNET

Web Page Geared Towards Immigrants

Andaluz businessmen have launched an online consultancy for immigrants. The portal, appropriately named 'conpapeles.com', an information piece, related to all immigration news and paperwork. www.conpapeles.com aids when having to fill in paperwork and other services that offer resourceful administrative information.

TOURIST APARTMENTS HAD AN OCCUPANCY RATE OF 71.9% IN JULY, 2001

According to the National Statistics Board, the occupancy rate of tourist apartments was up to 71.9% in the month of July, a total of 59% were foreigners while 49% were spaniards.

The Valencian community was the most visited by Spanish tourists, followed by the Canary Islands, Catalonia, Andalucia, Murcia, the Balearic Islands, and then Cantabria.

Differently, foreigners visited the Canary Islands, followed by the Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Valencia and Andalucia.

Spanish occupancy was catalogued at 77% in July 2001 with 161,304 being tourist apartments. This was a 1.8% increase from July 2000.

THE ANDALUSIAN COUNCIL (JUNTA DE ANDALUCIA) AGREES TO PROCEED WITH EIGHT DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THE ANDALUSIAN NATURAL PARKS

The objective of the development is to stimulate growth and involvement of these municipalities while integrating the environmental preservation and the best use of natural resources of our natural parks.

Part of the development plans include a territorial status update, a management model and a sequence of rules meant to enrich local initiatives.

The plans are headed by the Environmental Council (Consejería de Medio Ambiente) under supervision of public administration and certain economic sectors.

200 CONGRESSMEN MEET AT THE 29TH INTERNATIONAL FLAMENCO CONGRESS IN ALGERICAS

The XXIX International Congress of Flamenco, inaugurated in Algeciras (Cádiz) celebrates Sep 14th, 2001. It welcomes approximately 200 congressmen who will speak on the culture of flamenco.

Flamenco specialists from the Perpignan University (France), such as Bernard Leblón will host a flamenco conference within the French environment. Others such as the writer, Felix Grande, or the artists Juan Peña "El Lebrijano", "Fosforito" will also be there.

The meeting this year in Algeciras is one of the most important in the world folklore, while last year it was celebrated in Barcelona.

The Mayor of Algeciras, Patricio González presented the prestigious award "Palma de Plata de Gibraltar" to el Jienense, Rafael Romero, also known as "El Gallina". Other contributors to this celebration will be Aura Vargas and Carmen Linares.

This Congress which has a budget of 30 million Pesetas will unfold at the "Congreso de Formación Portuaria de Algeciras" and is organized by the Municipal Cultural Foundation of the Consistorio that the Congress has organized towards the development of flamenco.

This exposition offers 19 works of art by the malagueñan artist - displayed at his birth home.

Opening times: 11:00 to 14:00 and again from 18:00 to 21:00, Closed Sunday afternoons and holidays

A ROUMANIAN WAS ARRESTED FOR USING THREE MINOR AS BEGGARS IN CHICLANA

Chiclana neighborhood calls informed police that some minors seemed malnutritioned. The Policia Nacional immediately investigated the case and the minors were remitted under the custody of the Chiclana Social Services of la Frontera . They now all await a jury's decision.